Apparatus for inspection of contaminated glass articles



D. MERCUR Nov. 30, 1943.

APPARATUS FOR INSPECTION OF CONTAHINATED GLASS ARTICLES Filed July 22.1941 -Tlig. 2 I JA- INVENTOR.

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iatented Nov. 30, 1943 UNiTED STATES .TENT QFFICE APPARATUS FORINSPECTION (PF CONTAMI- NATED GLASS ARTICLES l Ciaim.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in apparatus forinspecting hollow glassware or similar articles for grease spots orother uncleanly surface conditions.

It is amon the objects of the invention to provide apparatus adapted todirect a light ray in such relation to the surface of a glass tumbler orthe like that any surface contamination will be at once apparent to theobserver.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus forthe purpose described, which shall be of simple, compact constructionand which shall be a self-contained unit usable anywhere by simplyremoving the cover of a support upon which the article to be inspectedis placed.

These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent froma consideration of the accompanying drawing constituting a part hereofin which like reference characters designate like parts and in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of an inspection apparatus embodying theprinciples of this invention with the cover in open position;

Fig. 2 a vertical cross-sectional View thereof taken along the line 22Fig. 3 a front elevational view partially in cross-section taken alongthe line 33, Fig. 2.

In the drawing numeral I designates a rectangular box having a lowercompartment 2 partitioned at 3 to house a dry cell battery 4 whichfurnishes energy for one or more light bulbs 5 mounted in a socket 6attached to the base by a screw 1, the light bulbs being connected anddisconnected with battery 4 by a slide switch generally designated bythe numeral 8. An upper horizontal wall 9 of the apparatus is slotted atIf! to receive a light conductor ll which is preferably of anon-shatterable material such as Amphenol, which particularly has thecharacteristic of transmitting light rays through the end H! of themember.

Above the horizontal wall 9 is a metal liner l3 for supporting anarticle to be inspected such as the glass tumbler l4. Mounted on theliner I3 is a bafile l5 which is secured by screws Hi, the baiiie beingopaque, preferably of a black color to avoid reflection of light.

It will be seen from Fig. 2 that the edge of the tumbler M extends toabout the mid-section of the conductor ll so that light from the bulbs 5passes vertically through the conductor and upwardly on both the innerand outer walls of the tumbler M.

A viewing lens 11 is provided adjacent an opening IS in the front of thebox, the lens being housed by a fixed top or cover l9, which iscomplementary to a movable cover 20 hinged at 2| and which, when in theclosed position, is flush with the outer surface of the fixed cover IS.

The operation of the above-described device is briefly as follows:

The cover 20 is opened to expose the tumbler support as shown in Fig. 2.The tumbler i4 is placed on the support with its edge so located withrespect to the light conductor H that the light rays will straddle thewall of the tumbler, and. by viewing the tumbler through lens I], anygrease, dirt or other impurities on either the inner or outer surface ofthe tumbler becomes very readily visible.

The tumbler M is then revolved by hand while retaining its seat on thesupporting liner it, so that the entire periphery of the tumbler may beinspected almost instantly. When not in use, the cover 26 is closed andswitch 8 is turned off. While it is the purpose of the invention toprovide apparatus for inspecting glasses in restaurants and publicplaces for sanitation, it Will be evident that the invention may also beuseful in testing imperfections in the glass, resulting from defects inthe fabricating process.

I am aware that other devices have been heretofore proposed for testingimperfections in glass articles, but these devices utilize a differentprinciple of light reflection and defects are thereby detected byrefraction of the light, which is a principle not herein employed.

In the instant case, by the use of the conductor, the light is reflectedupwardly only, substantially parallel with the surface of the glassarticle, which renders surface impurities plainly visible.

Although one embodiment of the invention has been herein illustrated anddescribed, it will be evident to those skilled in the art thatmodifications may be made in the details of construction withoutdeparting from the principles herein set forth.

I claim:

Apparatus for inspecting the surface of glass articles comprising ahorizontal supporting surface for the article to be inspected, having anabutment for engaging one edge of the article, a light conductoradjacent and below said abutment to direct light rays along the surfaceof the article when its edge engages the abutment and a source of lightbelow the conductor, a baffle plate of an opaque and non reflectingsubstance extending vertically from said article support and behind thesurface of the glass to be inspected, and a viewing lens in front of theabutment having its focusing axis at right angles to the baflle plateand to the direction of the light rays for inspecting the surface of theglass above the light conductor.

DAVE MERCUR.

